NEWS DIGEST, EVENING
29 June 2019: 25 Shawal 1440:Vol: 11, No:232
INDIA
Pehlu Khan lynched by gau rakshaks in 2017, now chargesheeted for cattle smuggling by Rajasthan govt
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pehlu-khan-was-lynched-now-he-is-chargesheeted-by-congress-government-5805865/
Rajasthan Police have filed a chargesheet for cow smuggling against Pehlu Khan, the dairy farmer who was beaten to death 2 years ago by a mob of gau rakshaks in Alwar for transporting cattle, and his two sons.The chargesheet also names the owner of the pick-up truck that was used for transporting the cattle on April 1, 2017, when the lynching took place near Behror. The latest chargesheet,in which Pehlu Khan has been posthumously charged, was prepared on Dec.30 last year, days after the new Congress government came into power in Rajasthan, and was presented in the court of the Additional CJM in Behror on May 29 this year.The chargesheet accuses Khan and his sons under various sections Rajasthan Bovine Animal Act.Khan’s eldest son Irshad(25), who is named in the chargesheet, said: “We lost our father in the attack by cow vigilantes and now we have been charged as cow smugglers. We had hoped that the new Congress government in Rajasthan will review and withdraw the case against us but now a chargesheet has been filed against us. We hoped for justice after the government change but that didn’t happen.” Khan’s younger son, Aarif, has also been named in chargesheet.Last year, previous BJP govt in Rajasthan had filed a similar chargesheet against Azmat and Rafique, two associates of Khan who were also attacked by the mob that also targeted the truck driver Arjun. Jagdish Prasad, the owner of the pick-up, was also charged under Section 6 of the Act.2 FIRs were filed in the incident, first against 8 people who lynched Khan and his sons while second against Pehlu and his sons for carrying cattle from Rajasthan to Haryana without taking permission from collector.All 8 accused are out on bail while 2 of them are incommunicado from a long time now.Indianexpress/ times now
Gehlot on Pehlu Khan chargesheet: Investigation done under BJP govt, will re-investigate if needed
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ashok-gehlot-on-pehlu-khan-chargesheet-investigation-bjp-government-5806388/
Reacting to the posthumous chargesheet filed against mob-lynching victim Pehlu Khan, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot Saturday said the investigation in the case was done during the previous BJP govt in the state and the case would be re-investigated if any discrepancies are found.“Investigation of this case was done in the past during BJP govt and chargesheet was presented. If any discrepancies will be found in the investigation, case will be re-investigated,” Gehlot said.indianexpress
Thane cab driver beaten, ‘forced to chant Jai Shri Ram’; 3 held
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/crime/thane-cab-driver-beaten-forced-to-chant-jai-shri-ram-5803798/
Thane:A 25-year-old man was allegedly beaten up, abused and forced to chant “Jai Shri Ram” in Diva area of Thane on Monday. The three accused, all residents of Agasan village in Diva, were arrested by the police on Tuesday and have been remanded in police custody. Faisal Usman Khan(25) has been working as a driver for a cab aggregator company since Dec.2018. On Monday morning, around 3 am, Khan was on his way to Mumbai after picking up passengers from Manav Kalyan Hospital in Diva when the car broke down.“I switched on the parking lights and was trying to restart the car when 3 men on a scooter came from behind and started banging the windows,” Khan recounted. “They were reeking of alcohol and wanted to know why I had stopped my vehicle in the middle of the road,” he added.The accused then allegedly took keys of the car, dragged Khan and one of the passengers out and started abusing them. “…men also started abusing me for my religion and said that if I chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ loudly, they will let me go,” Khan said. The accused then took his mobile phone and fled after one of the passengers called the police, Khan said. When Khan registered a complaint with the police on Monday, he just told them about the physical violence and the theft of his phone. “I was in shock and was worried about the repercussions on my family. However, I later told senior officers at the police station the whole story. They assured me that I had nothing to fear,” Khan said. He then narrated the entire incident, including being forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’, in his statement to the police.The victim had noted down the registration number of the bike, which helped us trace the accused. Bike belonged to Jaideep Mundhe (26), who was riding it that day. We also arrested Mangesh Mundhe (30) and Anil Suryawanshi (22). All of them are residents of Agasan. The accused don’t have any previous cases against them,” said senior police officer. indianexpress
Man made to do sit-ups for not chanting Jai Shri Ram in Coochbehar
https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/news/india/man-made-to-do-sit-ups-for-not-chanting-jai-shri-ram-in-coochbehar/articleshow/69991691.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Kolkata: A middle-aged man from minority community was made to do sit-ups holding his ears for not uttering 'Jai Shri Ram' in Coochbehar district of West Bengal. The video, which went viral, was noticed by the state administration and the accused has been arrested in this connection.Apsi Miyan, accused, was produced in a local court in Coochbehar’s Tufanganj on Friday and remanded to police custody for interrogation.In the video, Apsi Miyan is seen beating a man and asking him to chant 'Jai Shri Ram'. When the man refused to do so, he was forced to do sit-ups. According to sources, Apsi Miyan is a BJP worker. However, the party refused any connection with the accused.Following election results, the accused had tortured the victim and Utpal Das, a local resident, had helped the victim to file a complaint in the local police station. However, no one was arrested then. It was only when the video went viral and the state administration noticed the matter, the police took immediate action. Police has not confirmed any political identity of the accused till now.mumbaimirror
UP: Miscreants harass Muslim boy in train, remove his skull cap; case registered
https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/up-miscreants-harass-muslim-boy-in-train-remove-his-skull-cap-case-registered-119062801538_1.html
Police on Friday registered a case after a man complained that he was allegedly harassed by some miscreants while he was travelling in a passenger train." Mujiburrehman informed us that some youth harassed him near Rajghat station while he was travelling in a train on June 18. He gained his consciousness next day at some other place. We have registered a case based on the complaint," SP Abhishek told reporters here.The victim alleged that miscreants threw his skull cap, looted money and phone, and left him in an unconscious state. Mujiburrehman said: "I was going to the madrassa on June 18. I purchased a train ticket for Bareilly. Some boys harassed me and thrown my skull cap. They also beat me.""My son told me that 8-10 boys boarded the train and snatched my skull cap.Then they started beating him. They made him smell something after which Mujiburrehman got unconscious. His phone and money were also looted," said his father.ANI
SC to hear plea seeking probe into ‘brutal’ torture of 2 Muslim men in Bihar police custody
https://theprint.in/india/governance/judiciary/sc-to-hear-plea-seeking-probe-into-brutal-torture-of-2-muslim-men-in-bihar-police-custody/255698/
New Delhi: Nearly 4 months after two Muslim men died in Bihar police custody due to alleged torture, the Supreme Court will hear a plea next week, seeking an impartial investigation into the incident.The plea, submitted by NGO Citizens Against Hate, stated that the Bihar police and the doctors who conducted the post-mortem colluded to cover up the crime.The plea, filed in April by advocate Fauzia Shakil, will be heard Tuesday by a bench comprising CJI Ranjan Gogoi along with Justices Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose when the apex court reopens Monday after its nearly two-month summer vacation.According to the plea, it appeared that the two men were brutally beaten up in police custody — their hands and legs were broken, they had abrasions, nails were hammered into their bodies, and they seemed to have been given electric shocks too.Photographs and videos of the bodies being washed before the burial showed marks of torture, plea stated.World Organisation Against Torture, a network fighting against human rights violations, condemned incident Friday and urged India to “prosecute the alleged perpetrators” and “abide by its promise to ratify UN Convention against Torture”. “Despite civil society fact-finding missions, numerous reports in local and national newspapers and requests for investigations sent to the Chief Minister of Bihar by a group of eminent former civil servants, no meaningful actions have been taken almost 4 months after the incident,” the organisation said.“While NHRC examines the case to decide its intervention, it is urged to immediately conduct an independent inquiry with no more delay.”On the intervening night of 5-6 March, police officials of Chakiya police station had picked up Gufran Alam (30) and Taslim Ansari (32) from their residences in Sitamarhi district in connection with a case of motorcycle theft.theprint
Another BJP leader attacks municipal officer in MP
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/another-bjp-leader-attacks-municipal-officer-in-madhya-pradesh/article28216101.ece?homepage=true
Satna:BJP leader and his supporters allegedly attacked the chief municipal officer of a civic body in Satna district of MP on Friday,leaving him seriously injured,just 2 days after party MLA Akash Vijayvargiya was arrested for assaulting an official with a cricket bat.Ramnagar Nagar Panchayat president Sushil Patel and his supporters allegedly attacked the civic body’s chief municipal officer D. Soni and a few corporators, police said.Patel, however, alleged that it was Soni who attacked him on the direction of a Congress leader.Both sides filed cases of assault against each other, police said. No one has been arrested yet.CCTV footage of the incident was being examined and the guilty will face action according to law, said district superintendent of police Riyaz Iqbal. According to police sources, Patel reached the Nagar Panchayat’s office with more than six persons and attacked the officer and a few corporators with sticks.PTI
Pune wall collapse LIVE: 15 from Bihar killed, most were labourers; govt orders probe
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/pune-wall-collapses-in-kondhwa-rescue-operations-underway-live-updates-5805973/?#liveblogstart
At least 15 people, including four children, were killed Saturday morning after a compound wall collapsed at a construction site in Pune’s Kondhwa area.All 15, belonging to families of labourers, were housed in temporary shelters built at the site near Talab Masjid. Maharashtra CM set up an inquiry and announced compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the next of kin.Search and rescue operations have been called off. Three persons were taken out alive and are being treated at a hospital for multiple serious injuries. A stop work order has been issued at the construction site. The Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil said most of the deceased are from Bihar. While three of deceased belonged to Mahisal in Katihar district of Bihar, 12 more were from Balrampur town of same district. The deceased have been identified as Alok Sharma (28), Mohan Sharma (24), Ravi Sharma (19), all from Mahisal. And Aman Sharma (19), Laxmikant Sahani (22), Sunil Singh (35), Ovi Daas (2), Sonali Das (6), Bhima Das (38), Sangeeta Devi (26), Ajitkumar Sharma (7), Rekhalkumar Sharma (5), Neeva Devi (30), Deepranjan Sharma and Avadesh Singh. indianexpress
Article 370 temporary in nature, says Amit Shah; President rule extended
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/article-370-temporary-in-nature-says-amit-shah-president-rule-extended/articleshow/69996132.cms
New Delhi: Home minister Amit Shah has told the Lok Sabha that Article 370, which provides for special status to J&K, is “temporary in nature” and “not permanent” in what was an unambiguous articulation of BJP’s resentment of the constitutional scheme which it has held responsible for the growth of separatism in the sensitive state. “This is temporary, not permanent. Either you have forgotten this or have chosen to gloss over the fact that Article 370 is a temporary provision of the Constitution. Do remember this and also that Sheikh Abdullah (late founder of National Conference and the tallest leader of the state) had concurred with the arrangement,” Shah told Hasnain Masoodi, Lok Sabha member from Anantnag in J&K who represents NC. This was arguably the first time that a home minister had unambiguously said on floor of Parliament that Article 370 was not sacrosanct, and is sure to heighten speculation about the steps the Modi govt might take to tackle the twin challenges of terrorism and secessionism in the Valley.Political circles have been thick with anticipation of bold measures with regard to a fresh delimitation of constituencies in J&K and the stand that the Centre might take in Supreme Court vis-à-vis Article 35A, which places curbs on ownership of property on non-residents of the state. Shah was participating in the discussion on bills seeking extension of President’s rule in J&K for another 6 months beginning on July 3 and for extending reservation to people living along international border.Lok Sabha cleared both bills by voice vote. In a hard-hitting speech, Shah blamed secessionism in J&K and loss of one-third of the state to Pakistan in 1948 on the policy of first PM Jawaharlal Nehru. He also criticised failure of previous govts to ban even self-avowedly hardline and secessionist outfits like J&K Jamat-i-Islami and JKLF. He stressed that the party will not dial back on the poll pledge after its victory. TOI
J&K: Article 370 has to go lock stock and barrel, says Ram Madhav
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jammu-and-kashmir-article-370-bjp-ram-madhav-5806324/
New Delhi :Reiterating the saffron party’s stance on the contentious Article 370, BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav on Saturday said the Centre is committed to repealing the provision which provides special status to Jammu and Kashmir, ANI reported. “As far as Article 370 is concerned, our ideological commitment is well-known. It has to go lock stock and barrel as the Home Minister (Amit Shah) clearly mentioned yesterday in Parliament,” Madhav said.“Our govt is committed to resolving all outstanding issue in Kashmir. We are moving in that direction,” he added.Madhav also said that ex PM Jawaharlal Nehru was responsible for the situation in the state. “Whatever Amit Shah said is historical truth. The trouble in Kashmir is a creation of the first government of independent India under Pandit Nehru. When it was introduced by former PM Nehru, he himself had said that it was temporary and would erode on its own,” he asserted.However, the BJP leader said, the removal of Article 370 may take time since the action involves some procedure.indianexpress
J&K: Clash among militant groups exposes rift in Valley
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jk-clash-among-militant-groups-exposes-rift-in-valley-5805832/
Srinagar:Fight between indigenous militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and a group associated with the global Islamic State has triggered the first direct clash involving the 3 in South Kashmir. A commander of Islamic State Jammu Kashmir (ISJK), which operates under the banner of Wilayah Al Hind, was killed and a Hizbul militant seriously injured in the gunfight in Anantnag district Wednesday. The injured militant was later arrested by J&K Police.A senior police officer in South Kashmir said:“We have arrested a terrorist belonging to Hizbul, who was wounded in the firefight. The fight started because of some issue regarding weapons. The injured terrorist is in hospital.” He said there are “four to five terrorists associated with ISJK in South Kashmir”. “This is a very small group of ISJK and I don’t think they can withstand the pressure of Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar. This is the first such incident in South Kashmir and now one of the ISJK terrorists, who was part of the clash, has issued a video regarding the incident,” he said.The clash took place inside apple orchards at Sirhama village in Bijbehara late Wednesday night. “ISJK terrorist killed in the shootout has been identified as Adil Das of Waghama Bijbehara while injured Hizbul terrorist is Arif Hussain Bhat of Larkipora Anantnag,’’officer said.He said there were “3 terrorists belonging to ISJK while four or more Hizbul and Lashkar terrorists” were involved in the skirmish. “There was firing from both sides,’’ he said.ISJK has issued a video in Kashmiri on the incident. “Man who has issued the statement has been identified as ISJK terrorist Khateeb Das, who is apparently related to the killed terrorist,’’ the officer said.Police sources said Adil Das was a Lashkar militant before switching to Islamic State. They said Lashkar wanted Adil to return their gun, which triggered the fight. While Hizbul and Lashkar have been silent on the incident, the ISJK video accused them of tricking their commander into believing they had come to join ISJK.“The tragedy that befell us happened because of the spying of Hizbul and Lashkar. These are Pakistan’s dirty tricks and (Hizb chief in Kashmir) Riyaz Naiku’s dirty tricks. We will give you proof. They tricked Adil Das into believing that they were going to join IS and swear allegiance to Abu Bakr Baghdadi…After martyring Adil, they opened a burst of fire at (another ISJK man) Turabi (who was there) and it hit their own associate. They are apostates and are fighting for apostate Pakistani state here,’’ the video statement said. ISJK video also accused Hizbul of killing several other militants.There has been growing friction between local militant groups and affiliates of global terror outfits in Kashmir. Both Hizbul and the separatist conglomerate Hurriyat Conference has said that there is no role for global outfits like IS and Al Qaida in Kashmir.While Hizbul, which has a presence only in J&K, advocates accession to Pakistan, IS and Ansar Ghazwatul Hind (AGH), an affiliate of Al Qaeda with only a few members, have global ambitions. They have vowed to fight Pakistan and local militant outfits.indianexpress
Ayodhya to Rafale: List of significant cases up for hearing as SC resumes next week
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ayodhya-to-rafale-list-of-significant-cases-up-for-hearing-as-sc-resumes-5806223/
New Delhi :As the Supreme Court resumes on July 1 after its six-week annual summer recess, a list of significant cases will come up for hearing. This includes the Ayodhya land dispute, review pleas in the Rafale case and the contempt case against Congress president Rahul Gandhi. The SC will resume hearings in the Ayodhya land dispute case after mediation proceedings by a 3-member committee comprising Justice FMI Kallifulla Sri Sri Ravishankar and Sriram Panchu. Meanwhile, the Court will also take up for hearing the review pleas filed against its judgment on India’s Rafale fighter jet deal with France.The defamation case filed against Rahul Gandhi by BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi will also be taken up. The case has to do with Gandhi attributing a remark, “chowkidar chor hai” to the SC during a campaign speech ahead of Lok Sabha elections. Gandhi had tendered an apology and sought closure of the case.indianexpress
Prohibit multiple marriages in Islam: Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/muslims-marriages-men-multiple-wives-swaroopanand-saraswati-1558288-2019-06-28
Agra:Dwarika Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati demanded that the Muslim Marriage Act should be modified and multiple marriages of Muslim men should also be banned in the law, similar to Hindu Marriage Act.Saraswati said that if a person marries another woman when his wife is alive, then it should be made a crime for men of every community. This will bring a major relief for Muslim women. Saraswati said that Triple Talaq Bill should also clarify that if the husband is sent to jail under this law, then how will the wife survive outside with no money and or earnings.Commenting on the Ayodhya issue, Saraswati said that BJP and Modi government are fooling the Hindu community on this issue.Criticising the Saraswati's statement on the Muslim marriage practices, Sami Aghai of Bhartiya Muslim Vikas Parishad said that the Muslims have always been governed by the Islamic Law and the Quran contains solutions to all the problems, and that the Hindu leaders should not meddle with Islamic matters unless they have thoroughly studied Islam. Opposing Triple Talaq Bill, Aghai said that lakhs of Hindu women have been left by their husbands and are living like destitute, but the Modi government only saw the so-called atrocities being committed by Muslim men over their women.Aghai said that a man who has himself left his wife without any support since decades, does not hold the moral right to comment on how other men are treating their wives. Aghai said that BJP MP Hema Malini and her husband Dharmendra got married despite the fact that Dharmendra was already married and even had kids."Why did Hema Malini marry a married man and why did BJP give a ticket to a woman whose marriage to Dharmendra was not at all legal? Why didn't the Hindu saints and the Hindu community oppose this marriage or the several other high-profile marriages that took place in Bollywood despite the first wives being alive?" Sami Aghai said said raising questions.indiatoday
Not discriminating, dining halls in Muslim-dominated schools is govt scheme: Mamata
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/not-discriminating-dining-halls-in-muslim-dominated-schools-is-govt-scheme-mamata-banerjee-1558059-2019-06-28
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has said that the state govt's directive on the construction of dining rooms in Muslim-dominated schools is a government, the funds for which have been sanctioned by the Minority welfare department.Asserting that the West Bengal govt was not discriminating against students of others religions, Mamata Banerjee also said that the circular was to figure out where the minority students were in greater numbers so the funds of Minority welfare department could be channelised. Her clarification has come a day after BJP slammed the West Bengal govt for its recent order on the construction of dining rooms in Muslim-dominated schools, terming it is as discrimination.Mamata said, "The circular was worded in the manner to figure where minority students are in greater numbers so that we could channelise Minority Welfare Dept funds into this scheme." That, she said, is a Govt of India guideline."We are following that. It's a technical matter, nothing more," Mamata said. MoS for Minority Affairs Giasuddin Mollah also said that the project is being carried out by Minority Affairs department. "As per its mandate, department is working for infrastructure upgradation in minority-dominated general institutions for the development of all the students."Mollah also said that the dining halls in the schools will benefit all the students and not just the Muslims. Since, he said, "the fund is being sanctioned by the Minority Affairs department, the project can be implemented only in those schools that have a sizeable population of Muslim students." india today
India abstains from voting on UNGA resolution on goods used for capital punishment, torture
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/india-abstains-from-voting-on-unga-resolution-on-goods-used-for-capital-punishment-torture/article28224606.ece?homepage=true
UN: India has abstained from voting on a General Assembly resolution aimed at examining options to end trade in goods used for capital punishment and torture, saying it is unacceptable to place death penalty on par with torture.193-member UN General Assembly Friday adopted the resolution ‘Towards torture-free trade: examining the feasibility, scope and parameters for possible common international standards’ by a recorded vote of 81 in favour to 20 against, with 44 abstentions.By the draft’s terms, the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on the feasibility and possible scope of a range of options to establish common international standards for the import, export and transfer of goods used for “capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”India abstained from voting on the resolution, with First Secretary in India’s Permanent Mission to UN Paulomi Tripathi, in the explanation of vote, saying that incorporating capital punishment into the scope of this resolution “raises concerns that it may be an attempt to place it on par with torture.”PTI
Taking steps to keep oil supply regular: MBS
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/taking-steps-to-keep-oil-supply-regular-modi-mohammed-bin-salman-5805853/
Osaka:Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman on Friday told PM Narendra Modi that he was taking steps to keep the oil supply “sustainable and regular” for countries like India.Modi, who met Crown Prince, commonly referred to as MBS, had discussed the situation in Gulf. He appreciated MBS’s leadership for keeping the oil prices “stable and predictable”, according to Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale.Salman also invited Modi for an international event to be held later this year, and the PM has accepted. “Details will be worked out later,” Gokhale said.indianexpress
Revolt brewing against Congress ‘old guard’
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/revolt-brewing-against-congress-old-guard/article28214848.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi:Throwing down the gauntlet to the Congress’s ‘old guard’, 145 office bearers who had risen from the Youth Congress ranks resigned en masse on Friday “in honour of” Rahul Gandhi’s decision of May 25 to step down from the President’s post.The mass resignations followed a six-hour-long meeting of ex Youth Congress office bearers who have since been elevated to various positions in the party. As many as 373 Congress functionaries participated in the meeting. Their main demand is that present Congress Working Committee (CWC) must be disbanded and that Pradesh Congress Committee Presidents of the 17 States where the party failed to win a single Lok Sabha seat should step down. This group of younger functionaries are also hoping that the mass resignations would convince Mr. Gandhi to return. After almost a month of refusing to meet any senior leaders, Mr. Gandhi met leaders from four poll-bound States on Thursday and Friday.The move is seen as a challenge to the old guard and a pressure tactic to push for the implementation of Gandhi’s plan of fixing accountability. Party officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Gandhi had expected his resignation to spur many others to follow voluntarily, allowing for a shakeup of party organisation. Instead, more than a month later, the stalemate persists with senior leaders attempting to coax him to return.A bigger meeting has been planned for July 2, when Congress office bearers are expected to reach Delhi.thehindu
Flurry of resignations as leadership crisis deepens young-vs-old faultlines in Congress
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/flurry-of-resignations-as-leadership-crisis-deepens-young-vs-old-faultlines-in-congress-5805860/
WORLD
US, China agree to restart trade talks, say no to new tariffs on exports
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-us-agree-at-xi-trump-meeting-to-restart-trade-talks-xinhua/article28224657.ece?homepage=true
Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump agreed on Saturday to restart fractious China-US trade negotiations, with Beijing saying Washington agreed not to slap new tariffs on its exports, according to Chinese state media.The 2 countries will restart the talks "on the basis of equality and mutual respect", according to the official Xinhua news agency after the two leaders met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka. Xi opened the meeting by noting they sat not far from the spot where 48 years earlier Chinese and American athletes faced off in table tennis, opening the door to "ping-pong diplomacy" that eventually led to the restoration of normal diplomatic relations."China and the United States can both win through cooperation and both lose through fighting," Xi told Trump."Recently, I have maintained close contact with the President through telephone and written correspondence," Xi said at the start, adding he would like to exchange views with Trump to guide relations to the next step.AFP
US, Taliban to open Doha talks in fresh bid to end war
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-taliban-to-open-doha-talks-in-fresh-bid-to-end-war/article28224368.ece?homepage=true
A fresh round of talks between the US and the Taliban is to begin in Qatar, just days after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington is hoping for an Afghan peace deal before Sept. 1.Suhail Shaheen, spokesman for Taliban’s political office in Doha, tells talks with US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad will begin early Saturday morning. The focus of the talks will be on the withdrawal of US troops and Taliban guarantees to prevent Afghanistan from again hosting militants who can stage global attacks.The latest round of talks comes amid heightened expectations that followed Pompeo’s optimistic time frame for a pact to end Afghanistan’s war and America’s longest-running military engagement.AP
Afghan officials say Taliban attack kills 25 in north
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/afghan-officials-say-taliban-attack-kills-25-in-north/article28224714.ece?homepage=true
Kabul :Afghan officials say a Taliban attack against pro-government forces has killed at least 25 in the northern province of Baghlan.District chief Fazeluddin Muradi says that the insurgents’ attack also wounded at least eight pro-government fighters, during several hours of battle late Friday in the area of Nahrin.A police official, who was not authorised to speak on the issue, confirmed the high death toll.Taliban did not immediately claim the attack, but recently the militant group has stepped up its offensive against Afghan security forces.AP
Uighur leader urges G20 pressure to end China ‘genocide’
https://www.thehindu.com/news/news-in-pictures-june-29-2019/article28224742.ece?homepage=true
An exiled advocate for China’s ethnic Uighur minority yesterday urged world leaders gathered in Japan for the G20 summit to confront Chinese President Xi Jinping over the “genocide” of her Muslim people.Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Osaka meeting, Rebiya Kadeer said strong world pressure was essential to free an estimated one million people, mostly ethnic Uighurs, held in internment camps in western China.Chinese officials describe the camps as voluntary “vocational education centres” where Turkic-speaking Uighurs receive job training.But rights groups and former inmates describe them as “concentration camps” where Uighurs and other minorities are being forcefully assimilated into China majority ethnic Han society. thehindu
US deploys F-22 stealth fighters to Qatar amid Iran tensions
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/deploys-22-stealth-fighters-qatar-iran-tensions-190629063530291.html
US has deployed F-22 stealth fighters to Qatar for the first time, its military said, adding to a buildup of US forces in the Gulf amid tensions with Iran.The Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth fighters have been deployed "to defend American forces and interests", the US Air Forces Central Command said in a statement on Friday. It did not specify how many of the hi-tech planes had been sent.A photo handout showed 5 of the jets flying above the Al Udeid Airbase in Qatar. aljazeera
Saudi pipeline attacks originated in Iraq: US
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/saudi-pipeline-attacks-originated-iraq-reoort-190628200309756.html
Drone attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil industry in May originated in Iraq, not Yemen, US officials have concluded, according to a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report. The report, drew questions from Iraqi officials who asked Washington for more information supporting the claim.US officials familiar with the intelligence on the May drone attacks said they had originated in southern Iraq, the WSJ reported, adding that it most likely pointed a finger at Iran-backed armed groups in that region. Yemen's Houthi rebels, who have been battling a Saudi-led military coalition for more than four years, had claimed responsibility for the May 14 drone attacks against the East-West pipeline. The attack forced a brief shutdown but caused no casualties.aljazeera
Dalai Lama says Europe will become Muslim if immigrants stay:BBC report
https://www.newsx.com/world/dalai-lama-says-europe-will-become-muslim-if-immigrants-stay-says-bbc
Dalai Lama has recently grabbed headlines for his controversial remarks against US President Donald Trump, women and European migrants. The Buddhist spiritual leader, in an interview with the BBC, opened up about a wide range of topics including, Trump’s tenure, European migrants, his relationship with China, and his potential successor. The Buddhist monk launched a scathing attack at US President Trump saying he lacks moral principle, which came contrary to his remarks made in 2016 that he had no worries about his presidency. Lama also contended that he doesn’t agree with Trump’s Amerca first policy too. Lama, who is currently exiling in India for the past 60 years, also shared his views on immigration. He reiterated his statement made during a speech last year that refugees to the European Union should ultimately return home. He added that Europe is for European. newsx
Sudan braces for 'millions march' as defiant protesters regroup
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/sudan-braces-millions-march-defiant-protesters-regroup-190629063005440.html
Across Sudan, defiant protesters are preparing to return to the streets on Sunday for what social media users are calling a "millions march".The protesters are demanding power be handed over to a civilian-led government and justice for all lives lost at the hands of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during a recent crackdown in the wake of President's Omar al-Bashir's removal from power.The Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) on Twitter called on people to take to the streets on Sunday, saying "let's be loud on the streets again, and let's make the demonstrations on June 30th a prominent new page in the last chapter of the falling regime and its rigged council's drama". aljazeera
3 plead guilty to plot against New York Muslim community
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/islamberg-plead-guilty-bomb-plot-ny-muslim-community-190629060457307.html
3 young men accused of plotting to attack a Muslim community in upstate New York with homemade explosives have pleaded guilty. 3men and a 16-year-old high school student from Rochester area were arrested in Jan and accused of planning to attack the community of Islamberg, near Binghamton. Police have said the defendants had access to 23 rifles and shotguns and three homemade explosives. Investigators uncovered the plot after a student reported a suspicious comment in a lunchroom.On Friday, Vincent Vetromile, 20, pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted criminal possession of a weapon. He faces seven to 12 years in prison.aljazeera
Ghannouchi accuses Gulf, foreign media of targeting Tunisia security
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190629-ghannouchi-accuses-gulf-foreign-media-of-targeting-tunisia-security/
The leader of Ennahda Movement, Rashed Ghannouchi, has accused foreign and Gulf media of trying to cause unrest in Tunisia and to shake the people’s confidence in their security and military institutions.Ghannouchi made these accusations during an interview yesterday with the Midi Show, broadcast by Tunisian radio station Mosaïque FM.Ghannouchi said:“[Thursday] was a difficult day for Tunisians, who had to suffer two different issues, namely the rumour war targeting the health of our president [Beji Caid Essebsi], may God cure him, and used by foreign media to wage war on Tunisian public opinion and intimidate it in order to disrupt Tunisia and shake its security.”Essebsi was rushed to hospital in a “critical condition”, prompting many media outlets to report that he had died. Essebsi’s aide Firas Guefrech and Tunisia’s Prime Minister Youssef Chahed stressed that, though the president was seriously ill he had not in fact passed away, calling on onlookers not to be “misled by rumours”.middleeastmonitor
Tunisia: Prez improving, to be discharged from hospital soon
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/tunisia-president-improving-discharged-hospital-190628141506748.html
Arab League rejects any change in historical, legal status of Jerusalem
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190629-arab-league-rejects-any-change-in-historical-legal-status-of-jerusalem/
Arab League renewed its rejection of any change in the historical and legal status of Jerusalem, including the relocation or opening of any embassy or representation office in the Holy City.This came in a speech delivered by the Permanent Arab League Observer at UN, Ali Al-Sammak, to the sixth meeting of the conference held by the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinin People, which was held in Geneva on Thursday. Al-Sammak stressed that any change in the historical or legal status of the Holy City is a violation of international law and the resolutions of the international community.MEMO
Pak rejects US report on ‘forced conversions of non-Muslims’
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/international/pakistan-rejects-us-report-on-forced-conversions-of-non-muslims
Pakistan has rejected the recent US report on religious freedom violations in the country, terming it "unsubstantiated" and "biased".According to the report issued by US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), religious freedom conditions in Pakistan "generally trended negative" in 2018."During the year, extremist groups and societal actors continued to discriminate against and attack religious minorities, including Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Ahmadis, and Shi'a Muslims,"report said.However, Pakistan Foreign Ministry has dismissed the report."The report's segment on Pakistan is a compendium of unsubstantiated and biased assertions. As a matter of principle, Pakistan does not support such national reports making observations on the internal affairs of sovereign States. Pakistan, therefore, rejects these observations," Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.IANS
Flash: views & NEWS
'Jai Shri Ram' might be new slogan – but use of Ram as political symbol is 800 yrs old:Shoaib Daniyal
https://scroll.in/article/928508/from-ayodhya-to-parliament-a-very-short-history-of-jai-shri-ram
Junaid, Akhlaq, Tabrez: Muslims aside, we are also lynching our laws and legal system each and every time:Umar Khalid
https://www.dailyo.in/politics/muslims-lynched-tabrez-ansari-cows-jai-shri-ram-bjp/story/1/31276.html
Jai Shri Ram: How a Chant Became A War Cry for Attacking Muslims:ADITYA MENON
https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/jai-shri-ram-slogans-anti-muslim-lynchings-in-india
IMA ponzi scam: Unravelling of an investment fraud: The Hindu
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/the-unravelling-of-an-investment-fraud/article28213945.ece?homepage=true
India can negotiate an era of peace that may transform South Asia, with India as its central power: Khaled Ahmed
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-pak-a-pivotal-moment-5805680/
Don’t lay blame, analyse consequences of enforcing laws against cattle slaughter: Fauzan Alavi
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/stray-cattle-issue-a-reality-check-cow-slaughter-india-livestock-5805684/
The Indian economy’s crisis is not of GDP growth, but a drying up of animal spirits: Harish Damodaran
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/death-of-enterprise-entrepreneur-gst-demonetaisation-5805675/
From Indian Cities to Boston, Protests to Condemn Lynching Of Tabrez Continue:newsclick
https://www.newsclick.in/protest-continues-indian-cities-boston-condemn-lynching-tabrez-hate-crimes
CHRI’s RTI intervention reveals details about detention centres and NRC Process:Tahmina Laskar
https://caravandaily.com/chris-rti-intervention-reveals-details-about-detention-centres-and-the-nrc-process-in-assam/
India,Indonesia set US $50 billion trade target
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-indonesia-set-us-50-billion-trade-target-by-2025/articleshow/69999341.cms
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq
(Released at: 3:54 PM)
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